The number of suspected cases in South Korea of a deadly disease spread by ticks has risen to 30.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that 30 suspected cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) have been reported across the nation from April 30th to May 26th.

Among the 30 cases, a 63-year-old woman from Gangwon Province and a 73-year-old man from Jeju Island died and tested positive for the deadly disease. Health authorities are looking into the other 28 cases.

The health authorities said the possibility of dying from tick bites is significantly low, citing study results that the disease has a fatality rate of six percent as only half of a percent of ticks are infected with the virus.